24

                                    

                                          
We were in one of the con rooms we usually work with a laptop opened in front of me.
Vivaan was leaning with his back on the table next to me tapping his foot, Varun sat to my right bouncing his legs while Vijju was standing near the window looking at the city, all of us waiting in anticipation.
The sound of the ping caught our attention.
I hurriedly opened the mail scanning the contents and looked at them who were looking at me tensely.
Dear Mr Vivaan,
We are thrilled to inform you that V&V constructions has been selected as the winning bidder for the project Pandora's paradox..... 
I stopped reading with all of us shouting with happiness.
"Yea..! Congratulations!!" We shouted in unison smiling broadly.
Vivaan picked me up twirling around smiling broadly. I squealed placing my hands on his shoulders laughing. 
He placed me on the floor again holding me until I stood properly and turned to Varun and Viraj, patting their backs with proud smiles on their faces.
"Finally man! We did it!" Vijju said.
Pandora is a very big international company. They are very famous for amusement and theme parks all over the world. It's very prestigious to work with them. We can say it's a fate changing opportunity.
"Stella, get in contact with Pandora's and arrange for the meeting at the earliest." Vivaan said after we all settled down which took quite a while.
The excitement of getting them as a client is too much to subside quickly.
.
I was working in my cabin checking some paper work when someone knocked on my door.
I looked up to see Varun and Viraj standing at the threshold.
"Come in guys. What's the matter?"
"Can we talk?" Varun said as he sat infront of me. Locking the door Vijju sat next to him.
"What happened?" I asked frowning.
"It's about you and Mittu." He said. "Guys. Please.." 
"No Nivi, you have to know why he behaved like that. God knows when both of you are going to sort your issues. So you have to listen to us now." Varun said seriously.
I did not dare open my mouth after that. I have never seen both of them seriously till now.
"That day, his mother was admitted in hospital. He accused his parents for Bittu's death." Vijju said making me gasp.
"He was afraid that his anger issues will affect you. He thought he would hurt you if he was with you. He thought he was not correct for you. That's why he behaved like that." 
I was stunned hearing to what they were saying. No words seemed to come out of my mouth.
What has he done?
They left me to digest the news. After that I didn't meet anyone. I wanted to be alone.
It was almost past dinner time when I was finished with my work.
Getting into my car I started the engine, but it didn't start.
"Com'on, what is your problem." I grumbled starting again.
After few more attempts and failing, I came out of the car banging the door close with a force. I kicked the front tire irritated.
Leaning back on the car I took my mobile to call Amar but guess what. No cell reception.
I groaned fisting my palms. I think universe will know when you are not in a good mood and still want to make it even more worse. It's like magnet attracting iron pieces from a pile.
Just then I heard a honking. I looked ahead to see Mittu peeking out of his car's window.
"What's wrong?" He asked getting down and coming to me.
"My car's not starting." I said sighing.
I avoided seeing his face. I might punch him if I look at his face. I am still wrapping my mind around what they said.
"I will drop you. Come on." He said taking my hand.
I frowned hesitating . "I will not meet Bittu, if that's what you are thinking." He added. My head jolted to his face. I couldn't decipher what he was thinking.
I sighed nodding. Opening the car door for me, he buckled my seat belt once I settled in. 
These gestures, showing how important I was to him, giving preference to my wishes, everything he does reflected his love towards me.
Once we reached my place, I stopped from getting down.
I looked back to him. He was already looking at me.
"Do you want to see him?" I asked. I don't know why the hell I did that. But I understood at some point they have to meet. Might as well get over with it.
"I can?" He asked his eyes lighting up.
Smiling I got down with him walking next to to me. "But he will be sleeping now." 
"That's ok." He said smiling.
VIVAAN: 
"Did he eat?" She asked Nisha who opened the door for us.
"Chandini fed him. I just came. He was already sleeping by the time I came." Nisha said.
I stood in the middle of the hall, not knowing what to do. For the first time I felt awkward being with Nivi.
So I looked around observing her home. It was a spacious and cozy flat. A balcony to the right of the living room. It opens into three bedrooms. Left of the hall leads to dining table which opens into a kitchen.
Photo frames of Bittu and her were placed randomly on the walls.
I walked to the photo where she was holding a baby of 1 year may be, both of them looking at the camera, smiling.
He looked exactly like Vihaan. The same blue eyes that I have been missing for years. I closed my eyes controlling my tears. I got back to the present when I heard Nivi's voice.
"Thank you Nisha. I am really grateful with the way you are helping me." She said hugging her.
How has she been managing with work and the baby all these years? It must have been very difficult to raise him alone. 
"What are you doing there. Come on." Nivi said once Nisha left.
I followed her into one of the bedrooms. She was sitting on a cot next to Bittu, adjusting him.
He was sleeping peacefully with a small pout on his face. He looked adorable. I missed 4 precious years of my baby.
"I told her not to put this pillow." I heard Nivi grumbling while trying to take out the pillow he was sleeping on.
"Can you grab that one?" She said pointing to a more fluffy one that's on the couch. 
She lifted him lightly removing the pillow. I took it from her hand placed the one she showed beneath him.
"He is having cold. If he lies too flat, he will wake in the middle of the night crying because of the blocked nose." She said covering him with the duvet.
"I will just come." She said leaving me alone with him.
I slowly sat next to him on the cot. An overwhelming sadness rushed in me seeing the sleeping baby.
Unknowingly a tear slipped from my eye. I gently ran a hand on his forehead, pushing the hair out of his face, running my hand all over his face feeling his baby skin.
"I am sorry for not being there all these years my dear." I whispered hardly controlling my voice cracking.
"I promise you, I won't leave you again." 
............................................................................................................
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